Brownies, sparkles and candy may be in my bucket of awesome, but you'll need to make your own buckets (I don't like to share).

Okay let's get serious...

I've been blogging since January of this year and this is the advice I've gained on how to gain the proper following:

1. Blog Hop - When following your favorite blogs, fish out for new bloggers. When I take time to comment, I often find someone commenting I don't know so I decide to jump over and FOLLOW (only if I like what I see!)

2. Blog Theme - Interactive & fun is key! If you want people to follow you, you want to stay AWESOME. Make sure you stay fun, creative, and always have brownies available!

3. Keep Colors Simple - The harder your blog is to read, the shorter the visit for a newcomer, they want to be whisked away to some place super fun and EASY to read. I will say a splash of color never hurt anyone!!!

4. No Garbage - Make sure your blog is easy to open, don't overload your blog with things that weigh it down. Music players, awards and a few links are fine, just try not to go overboard.

Most of all, stay awesome! Be sweet and respectful when newcomers stop by and make sure to show them love!!!

So there you are... my serious and not.so.serious version to find followers!

hahahah...I love what you said about followers...So does that mean that we are dating?..hahahah....hahah...Its so cute!I so agree with all your tips:)...So sorry you didnt win my giveaway but I bet next time you will have more luck...Lisa will be back with us soon and I have a few amazing giveaways lined for every Wed in September and October...so fingers crossed,sweetie

I'm gonna go ahead and say that you're a natural at making people feel special and welcome. Great work, Jen. This is a wonderful post--but I think you overlooked something important, something that you've done amazingly: be humble, complimentary, and nice. You are the opposite of snooty, and that makes people want to blog with you.

Hi Jen!Great advice. I'd like to add, try to limit the length of your posts. An excessively long post can be a turn off to visitors who may X out instead of reading. (And thanks for joining my blog! Great to have you as a new follower!)

Jen,This is great. Wow- I didn't think that you had just started blogging in January. You obviously know what you're doing..I've already been trying to follow your previous advice to write shorter posts. Thanks for posting this.

I have often wondered why I went from 0 to 70 followers in a few months. I thought it was my wit and charm, but, ohhhhhhh was I wrong...it is my simple blog design because my wit and charm are over riden by me being blog design challenged ;-)

hi miss jen! i gotta admit i just only come here for the brownies. ha ha. the real truth is i come here cause i love you and you give sooooo much love back to everyone and that makes you real special. i like your blog cause its cool and easy to read. mostly i think my blog is pretty much like the stuff you said. its a lenny blog for sure cause its like me. i gotta do more of that blog hopper stuff. ...big hugs from lenny

Love the Blog Hop tip. This is something I recently started doing and I can say that this does work! I noticed more followers in just a few weeks! As far as colors...I think mine has more than a "splash." Is it hard on the eyes, you think?

I think the three of you nailed it pretty well. It takes some work, which is my topic for today and for the entire week in fact, and bloggers who just expect things to happen are in for some disappointment. It took me a few weeks of blogging to find this out, and I think I recognized it more quickly that a lot of bloggers. Good of you to spread the word. If you want to throw a party and have a lot of people come to it, you gotta make friends and get out there to pass out invitations. If nobody knows it's happening then no one's coming.

Awesome advice, Jen!! You have such an incredible example of what blogging should look like. Your posts are fun and personable, and all of your layouts have been so colorful! Thanks for sharing these tips! :)

I come for the brownies. I stay because of the sparklies that you leave on the blog page. You're always so fun and lighthearted, but focused. I love everything about your blog. I think what honestly makes yours the best - your personality. It shines right through. You naturally draw people to you because they want to be around your light. You rock!!

Good advice there, Jen.wasn't karen's BBQ brilliant? I met so many new and interesting people, looking forward this week to getting around all their posts.Thanks for stopping by my place, becoming a follower (I've returned the compliment!)and see you again soon!

Wonderful,awesome tips. I been struggling with confidence in writing my blog sometimes I worry that I am a person with a tiny voice and who would care what I write about. I appreciate the tips greatly. I will push on and conquer.